US court orders former World Champion to pay Nigeria firm N4.2bn over breach of contract
An appellate court in the United States has upheld the ruling of a lower court ordering a former World Champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., to pay a Nigerian company, Zinni Media Concept Limited N4.2 billion in damages over breach of contract and fraud.
A statement by the company’s media executive, Alex Nwankwo said the appellate court found merit in the ruling of a lower court, which found Mayweather guilty of breach of contract agreement, expressing satisfaction of the organisation over the ruling.
The agreement with Zinni Media Concept Limited requires Mayweather to make different appearances in Africa, including one Nigeria in June 2017.
He however did not fulfill a duly entered agreement but terminated it without cause and refused to reimburse advance payment made by the company for the service.
The CEO Zinni Media Ltd Prince Donatus Okonkwo, had only wanted reimbursement for the company’s deposits but Mayweather and his initial set of legal representatives implied that because the company was not based in the United States, he could not make any refund, the statement noted.
“Feeling violated and robbed, Zinni Media Ltd had no option but to seek and retain legal assistance within the USA to address the breach of contract.
“After several unsuccessful attempts to recover the appearance fees from the American boxer, the company instituted a legal action against Mayweather in 2018 where it alleged breach of contract, unjust enrichment and fraud against the former champion. We are grateful that two courts have granted a prayer by Zinni Media Ltd to impose terminating sanctions against Mayweather”, the statement added.
On October 31, 2023, a lower court ordered Mayweather to pay Zinni $1,638,542 in damages, $721,881.32 in prejudgment interest, $16,270 in sanctioned attorney fees, as well as $285 in costs.
Dissatisfied with the judgement, Mayweather however filed an appeal. On August 27, 2024, the California Court of Appeal upheld the ruling of the lower court.
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The judgment was confirmed by court documents dated Aug 27, 2024 and endorsed by Eva McClintock, Clerk of the Court of Appeals of the State of California.
The document is referenced (Second Appellate District, Case No. B334403; County Super. Ct. No. 19VECV00170). Okeke & Associates, PC., by Patrick I. Okeke, Esq., represented the Plaintiff and Appellant (Zinni), while the Defendant and Respondent (Mayweather) was represented by Eisner LLP, by Jeremiah Reynolds, Esq., and Benjamin Kassis, Esq.
The statement said despite the ruling of the court of appeal and finality on the case, Mayweather had still refused to pay the judgment money which continues to grow at 10% per annum.
In a bid to enforce the judgement, the court has gone ahead to instruct USA attorneys to target Mayweather’s 2015 Bugatti GSV or his 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta, both valued over the judgment amount, Zinni Media Ltd further stated in its release.
“We have already defeated Mayweather and his attorneys on numerous occasions during the proceedings so the enforcement of the judgement will be duly applied.
“Our forensic investigators have also uncovered a substantial number of Mayweather’s valued assets showing that he was very successful but clearly overstating his true net worth”, the statement added.
Alex Nwankwo quoted Prince Okonkwo as reacting on if his lawyers succeed in securing the Bugatti or Ferrari, he laughed and said, “these are very fast cars, but no good roads to drive them in Nigeria”.
Prince Okonkwo, a business mogul is a former Anambra governorship aspirant and the Honorary Counsel of Democratic Republic of Congo to Nigeria.
He is also the founder and chairman of Tetrazzini Group of companies.
